The Madness of Crowds

Chief Inspector Gamache, Book 17

By: Louise Penny

Narrated by: Adam Sims

Length: 16 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

The new book in the internationally best-selling Gamache series by 'one of the greatest crime writers of our time' (Denise Mina).

The incredible new book in Louise Penny's number one best-selling Chief Inspector Gamache series.

When Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is asked to provide crowd control at a statistics lecture given at the Université de l'Estrie in Quebec, he is dubious. Why ask the head of homicide to provide security for what sounds like a minor, even mundane lecture?

But dangerous ideas about who deserves to live in order for society to thrive are rapidly gaining popularity, fuelled by the research of the eminent Professor Abigail Robinson. Yet for every person seduced by her theories, there is another who is horrified by them. When a murder is committed days after the lecture, it's clear that within crowds can lie madness.

To uncover the truth, Gamache must put his own feelings about the divisive professor to one side. But with her ideas gaining ground, the line separating good and evil, right and wrong, is quickly blurring - especially when the case leads unexpectedly close to home....

Includes a bonus conversation between the author and audiobook narrator Adam Sims.

©2021 Louise Penny (P)2021 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Warning - too many triggers and horror

Writing is exceptional and really brings you into the story. Narrator also excellent. But the story itself is horrible and disturbing. Author going for shock value. Definitely an R18 book if not more. Don't let anyone young or sensitive near this! Couldn't finish this book as it has too many triggers including descriptions of covid deaths and later on, of torture.

Triggers (possible spoilers tho will not give away the who done it... cos I don't know and don't care to finish the book):
I got to a point around covid and the neglect and death of an entire old age home and stopped listening for a while. Then gave it one more chance and got to a description of the torture of patients by a doctor and then torture and rape of a child and stopped there. I should have stopped earlier. I don't need to listen to this and don't want that stuff in my head. I'm not going to touch this author again. Returning the book and will be getting my credit back to spend on something more uplifting. You are welcome to jump into the mire of despair and brokenness, but I'm not joining you.

Wonderful book

uniquely poignant with subtle humour
highly recommended. Gamache is a special human being in an ambiguous and complex world

Poignant, Moving and totally on trend

I absolutely loved this book. I have listened to all of Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache books and am a huge fan. This is not just a crime novel. It is so richly textured and multi layered. I was moved to tears at the end. I’m wondering if it’s because of the context that it is written in. It is controversial, humane, tragic and thoughtful. The narrator is superb. The interview at the end between the author and narrator is a special surprise. Thank you Louise Penny and Adam Sims. I am deeply grateful.

Adam Simms

Thankyou Adam Simms for bringing once again this book alive and thrilling, looking forward to continue listening every chance i had!
You are one of the greatest narrators that i have had the privilege to listen to. I handpick audio books now by searching for those narrated by you.

Louise Penny thankyou for your great ability to tell a story where the characters seem like a loved family by now!

👏👏👏

A brilliant look at what covid 19 has taught us about human nature

Who would think given we are still grappling with the covid 19 pandemic that reading a book with the theme of the pandemic at its core would be so enlightening and in the end comforting… but Louise Penny has achieved this, another great murder mystery with a wonderful moral message! Loved it!

I love this series, 6*

This is September 2021 and this book talks about Covid, which is about the third or fourth I’ve listened to recently, and for me I need a break from Covid, I feel like it’s too soon, so that nearly put me off. Also, while I have loved the series, the last book, which is set in Paris, seemed terribly formulaic so I was dubious about this one.

In addition, the premise of the book was a bit close to the bone. The world seems such a precarious place at the moment with nationalism (not in a good way) rife, politicians, world wide, forgetting that they’re supposed work in our best interests not their own, we seem to be on a precipice almost creating a second pandemic running alongside the first. Anyway, it’s scary (I’m not a pessimist and I’m not given to hyperbole contrary to these statements).

I’m so glad I persevered, I love the characters, I can see them and I love when characters stay with me long after the book ends. The best books for me are those in which I have an emotional link to the characters. That’s probably the same for most people.

Louise Penny and Adam Sims are a marriage made in audiobook heaven. At the end there’s an hour long conversation between them, normally I dislike this ( except one where Louise Voss talks about how you go about co writing a book (there with Mark Edwards)which was really interesting)). I loved this conversation.

I know I’m not the only one who loves this series, and I love that others will hate it, it’s our right to be different. But to hear them discuss “my” feelings about these people I love and the nuances which make this series so entertaining, and the things I got from the story. made me feel part of the conversation! Mad? Probably!

And finally, they both sounded so genuine and it was interesting to learn how each goes about their own roles in creating the books. They seemed genuinely interested in each other and appreciative of the others talents rather than sycophants.

Next!

My least favourite

Very disappointed with the latest Inspector Gamache novel. Like other reviews have, found it’s darkness too relentlessly depressing and oppressive. It was also very claustrophobic and insular in its setting reading more like a closed room mystery rather than the richly diverse and expansiveness of previous novels. If this was my first time to a Louise Penny novel , it might be my also have been my last.

A bit thin

This is only the second time that I have given a Louise Penny less than 5 stars. I loved being back in three pines with the comfort of"old friends" however the story was not multi layered as her best ones are

Another gorgeous book in the series.

Oh how I adore these books, the cast of characters, the narration. Sumptuous and life enhancing

All will be well

Wow such a powerful story line. Raw with post covid emotion tangled with previous crimes that even our hero had trouble sorting. The Madness of Crowds is about how individual leaders can start an evil new movement.

A perfect listen

There is not one Louse Penny book read by Adam Sims that I can find fault with, the Madness of Crowds is no exception. His interpretation of Ruth (& her duck) is just perfect and my attention is held from beginning to end.
Highly recommended

Delightful and insightful conversation between Louise & Adam

Love love love the conversation between Louise and Adam at the end! Thank you both for taking the time to do that. Madness is great and the first post-pandemic book I’ve read treating these important and challenging topics in the ever delightful world of three pines and Gamache!

Worth coming back again and again!

One bad review of the first audiobook almost made me turn away from this series, I’m so glad I desided to listen anyway. Although not every book engages me equally, I want to know what will happen to all the people that I feel I know. Adam Sims reads beautifully, I wouldn’t be able to listen to anyone else, as his interpretation of the characters is crucial to how I imagine them. Make sure to listen past the end of the book, there is an interview between Adam Sims and Louise Penny!

'The Plandemic'

I cannot even give the story a decent score because I could not get passed chapter 3.
I have always loved this series and have listened to them all up to now; thoroughly enjoying the expert narration by Adam Sims.
But..... the persistent, and unnecessary mentioning of 'The Pandemic', has totally put me off. It has not added to the story, (so far as I got), and simply seems gratuitous virtue signalling. It was bad enough going through such a time without the placement of 'The Pandemic' at every opportunity.
Really spoiled it for me. I will be requesting a refund.

Good story but too long

Whilst I love all the characters and the intricate/parallel story lines I’ve found I’ve skipped the middle 10-15 chapters of the last few books. I enjoy the characterisation and interactions with his family but not them being at the core of every story line. No one outside of detective fiction has that many dramatic events around their family.